UP THE MOUNTAIN AT LAST ON THURSDAY 18TH APRIL
Summer this week arrived here on the Costa Blanca but what we need is rain. The cold winds have dispersed and the heat is on. The drought continues with only a mere threat of any precipitation. A full sky of cloud, 20 percent chance of rain with nought millimeters forecast! And through all of this the wildlife struggles but the migration is going through.
On 18th April and only my third trip out in 2024 it was time to get up that mountain again. Monnegre, just 20 minutes north of Alicante is one of our go-to-places. I love it up there. Our target was to check on a Trumpeter Finch -Camachuela Trompetero a location that we have watched for several years. (And so have the Universidad of Alicante).
We counted the Collared Doves - Tortola Turca (our best ever count was 73) on our way through Rio Park and spotted a solitary Bee-eater - Abejaruco Común on a wire. It was to be the only sighting off the day although we did some them later.
We always view our first stop from higher up expecting some of the usual culprits. Two superb views of a male Blue Rockthrush - Roguero Solitario. Two Red Rumped Swallows - Golondrina Dáurica flew below us on the edge of the ravine. They were to be the only Hirundines that we saw all day. If you are only into views then the rock formations here are very colourful. The greys and dark slashes looked even more accentuated. Is that because of the lack of rain and the rock is drying up?
We parked up and within minutes a male Trumpeter flew in. A startlingly red bill and with a pinkish hue on this body. He looked good. We had only two viewings, both males that arrived from different directions and flew away to a different area. It seems we may have two breeding males but where were the females? One male had a plain metal ring on his left leg but on the other a yellow ring and also a red one. We had only seen birds with plain rings before. The camera may be able to read a number and we can check on previous photographs to see if we have seen this bird before. There were certainly birds around as we could hear them calling. At this site we had Rock Sparrows - Gorrion Chillón, House Sparrow - Gorrion Común, and a Serin - Verecillo posed.
Deep into the ravine calling from the riverine habit a Nightingale - Ruiseñor Común, called.
We went on hoping for Warblers but no. There were very raucous Jays - Arrrendajo, several Magpies - Urraca and one Mistle Thrush - Zorzal Charlo, with not any Raptor to be seen anywhere. As we got higher we scanned the skies and it was not until we were at the top that we heard Choughs - Chova Piquirroja .
At the village of Monnegre we parked the bridge as this has been a great spot in previous times. A Nightingale again singing and stayed deep with in the reeds.
Our first Woodchat Shrikes - Alcaudón Comúnperched well and the photos will prove it. Some great posing and kindly staying still. Somewhere else a Great Grey called - Alcaudón Real.
We travelled down through Tibi and stopped at the river. It seemed to early for Damaselles etc and. All we got was a group of White Wagtails - Lavandera Blanca. A Blackbird - Mirlo Común called and on the journey Bryan heard a number of other Tits.
Next was Maigmo where a Wood Lark - Totovia perched in view. Where there is accommodation there is water. A Crested Tit - Herrerillo Capuchino took a drink and gave me my best view ever. Bryan could hear Tree Creepers - Agateador Común and we watched one for several. minutes. Great views again. Crossbills - Piquituerto Común flew overheard.
Time was short and we went straight to Balcon de Alicante. It was grey and cold and nothing doing except Tree Creepers calling. They seemed to be all around.
There is road side vegetation with some in bloom.(PlantNet gave me the clue!) On one bush, two - two spot ladybirds, “fed” on a Genista Monosperma or Bridal Veil Broom. They are aphid eaters, they go for pollen and therefore are good pollinators. we had 5 or more sightings of swiftly moving Swallowtails, one or two other species with some Whites distant. We just need more time and patience to see it all.
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